A hundred New Yorkers from 35 different countries became U.S citizens on Sunday. The naturalization ceremony comes at a time when the Obama administration is trying to prod 8.8 million immigrants to take the same step.

The administration launched a campaign last month aimed at easing the path to citizenship. At the Sunday ceremony, part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the country and the 100 new Americans were benefiting from naturalization.

“It reflects a greater level of integration in American society and it also affords people very significant rights, the right to vote chief amongst them,” he said. “And it also comes with responsibilities, civic responsibilities, that I think make our country stronger.”

Mayra Martinez, 28, who came to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 2, was among those who became citizens. She said she wanted to become a citizen before the presidential election.

“If we want to make an impact as a community, we need to really come together, sign up, become citizens,” Martinez said. “So I guess that’s really the main way you can make your voice heard.”

The administration’s efforts to ease the path to citizenship include allowing immigrants to pay the $680 naturalization fee, an obstacle for some, with a credit card, and helping people find English and civics classes.

Critics have called the administration's move an effort to enlist more Democratic voters.